Queen's South Africa Medal

Terms

The medal was awarded to all who served in South Africa between
11 October 1899 and 31 May 1902 (during the Boer War).

Bars

There are twenty-six bars to the medal; awarded to Canadians most
often were:

Cape Colony: Awarded to troops serving in Cape Colony between
11 October 1899 and 31 May 1902;

Orange Free State: Awarded to troops serving in Orange
River Colony any time from 28 February 1900 to 21 May 1902;

Johannesburg: Awarded to those troops who, on 29 May 1900,
were north of an east and west line through Klip River Station
and east of a north and south line through Krugersdorp Station;

Belfast: Awarded to troops who, on 26 or 27 August 1900,
were east of a north and south line drawn through Wonderfonein,
and west of a north and south line through Dalmanutha Station,
and north of an east and west line drawn through Carolina:

Transvaal: Awarded to those troops serving the Transvaal
at any time between 24 May 1900 and 31 May 1902, who received
no other clasp for action in the Transvaal;

Natal: Awarded to all troops serving in Natal between 11
October 1899 and 11 June 1900;

Driefontein: Awarded to troops serving with Army Headquarters
and LGen French's column which advanced from Popular Grove on
10 March 1900;

South Africa 1901: Awarded to those not eligible for the
King's Medal although they had served at the front between 01
January and 31 December 1901;

South Africa 1902: Awarded to those not eligible for the
King's Medal although they had served at the front between 01
January and 31 May 1902.

Description

A circular, silver medal, 1.52 inches in diameter.

Obverse

The obverse shows a crowned and veiled effigy of the Queen Victoria,
facing left, with the legend VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX.

Reverse

Britannia is depicted holding the Union Flag in her left hand
and a laurel wreath in her right hand. In the right background
are troops marching to the coast and in the left background are
two men-of-war. Around the top are the words SOUTH AFRICA. The
first medals, awarded to the Lord Strathcona's Horse, bore the
dates 1899 - 1900. The dates were removed from subsequent medals
because the war continued beyond 1900. Some medals still show
the 'ghost' of 1899 - 1900.

Mounting

A plain, straight suspender is attached to the medal with a double-toe
claw.

Naming

Issued

There were 3,860 medals awarded to Canadians. Fifty of the 418
presented to the Lord Strathcona's Horse on 15 February 1901 are
known to have the dates 1899 - 1900 on the reverse. As many as
300 may have had the dates.